branch update

NSW BRANCH

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BRANCH UPDATE

Brett Carew Nothern NSW Member Manager Mynas Leontios Sydney Metro Member Manager

Welcome to our September issue of NeCA NeWS.

the last few months have been very busy but exhilarating, as we finished off our Northern and Southern Industry Nights and moved into our Sydney metro Industry Nights. With member loyalty at an alltime high, and new membership signups increasing at an accelerating rate, more and more members are benefiting from NeCA’s broad range of services.

Meet NECA’s new Sydney Metro Membership Manager – Mynas Leontios

We have been very pleased to welcome mynas Leontios, our new Sydney metro member manager, to the NeCA team. mynas spent over nine years at NeSS Super as the business Development manager, so he is no stranger to our industry and I’m sure many of you have crossed paths at past NeCA Industry Nights and events.

mynas is excited to take up this new role with NeCA, and support members with information on the latest policy and market changes, as well as technical, legal, human resources (Hr) and industrial relations (Ir), HSeQ advice, post trade training, insurance and other business support to ensure that your business and the electrotechnology industry continue to thrive.

New Digital High Work Licences now live

NeCA has welcomed new NSW Government initiatives aimed at improving industry accreditation safeguards, including a trial of an enhanced public register and the delivery of the Service NSW business profile.

the initiatives include updates to the public register website and supporting digital licences on the Service NSW app. these improved systems are designed to instil greater consumer confidence by enabling searches for worker licence records and business registrations, ensuring fully qualified tradespeople are identified and selected for performing specialised work.

the delivery of the initiatives involved extensive industry consultation from associations such as NeCA and required extensive trials to ensure a benefit for consumers, tradespeople and businesses. the enhanced public register provides customers with access to reference against a multitude of licences, whilst benefitting business owners by facilitating accurate management of licences and compliance obligations.

NECA’s legal webinar series

We recently launched a webinar series hosted by our in-house legal, Hr and Ir experts. these webinars have been developed to educate members on debt collection, unfair contract terms, employee entitlements, employee termination and obtaining a judgement.

If you would like to watch one of our webinars, then visit the NECA website for more information or keep an eye out in your email inbox.

AS/NZS 3760:2022 is now available on NECA’s Technical Knowledge Base

NeCA members can now view the AS/NZS 3760:2022 In-service Safety Inspection and testing of electrical equipment and rCD’s. the standard is now live on NeCA’s technical Knowledge base (tKb).

this standard has had a complete revision, superseding AS/NZS 3760:2010 and its Amendment No.1 (2011) and Amendment No.2 (2012) on 24 June 2023. this edition is a full re-write and contains many changes throughout the

document, including requirements for rCD testing by electrical contractors.

If you have any enquiries relating to this standard, or other technical enquiries, please connect with NeCAs technical team. All NeCA members have access to unlimited phone and email support with any technical issues.

Scan the Qr code to connect with NeCA technical.

NECA apprentice sessions

In recent months, NeCA business partners Clipsal Schneider, Legend CAbAC and NeSS Super, spent a week with NeCA training apprentices at our Centre of excellence in Chullora.

the sessions were aimed at educating our future industry leaders on quality products and innovations within the electrotechnology industry.

Professional indemnity insurance – why you need it

many NeCA members should be advised that if they provide services either as a stand-alone service or as part of installation and maintenance work, then they require professional indemnity insurance cover for their business.

Some of these professional services include testing and tagging; design of photovoltaic solar systems; switchboards, security systems; fire safety assessment and design for emergency and exit lighting, pLC and SCADA. Other services include preparing plans, specifications, calculation and designs.

If you make a mistake delivering your professional services, your customer may make a claim against your business for losses as a result of actual or alleged negligent acts or omissions in the professional service or advice.

Having professional indemnity insurance will protect your business with legal costs associated with responding to or managing claims. more importantly, using an insurance broker that addresses the specific needs of your business will ensure that you have the right coverage.

NeCA members are encouraged to enquire with a NeCAGuard representative for a specific and tailored package to suit their individual business needs.

If you are renewing your insurance cover, or seeking advice on whether your current cover provides the right protection, scan the Qr code to speak to a NeCAGuard representative.

A message from SafeWork NSW: test for ‘dead’ before you touch

the recent deaths of two NSW electricians in separate incidents as a result of an electrical shock highlights the dangers of working with live wires. We urge all workers (electrical and non-electrical) to SWItCH OFF all power at the property’s switchboard (meter box) and take steps to prevent the power being switched back ON until the work has been completed and the area has been vacated.

remember to always apply the safe work principle: test for ‘dead’ before you touch. be aware that some properties may have illegal connections that do not switch OFF under normal circumstances. treat all wiring as live unless proved otherwise by a licensed electrician.

SafeWork NSW advises:

½ switching OFF power at the meter box does not turn off the electricity supply from the street to the meter box. this means the incoming

overhead service lines and the consumer mains will still be live; ½ supply cables from solar panels to an inverter unit will be live when the solar panels are generating electricity. Check to see whether the property has a battery storage system and isolate it accordingly; ½ before entering the roof space or subfloor space of a house, let someone who is on site and contactable know where you are going and how long you will be; ½ electrical wiring work must only be carried out, or supervised, by a licensed electrician who has the necessary training and experience; ½ if you find any damaged wiring, exit safely and let the owner or property manager know so that proper repairs can be organised.

to prevent incidents, members are reminded that they have access to a free 90-minute NeCA Safety Advisory visit to help improve your standards of OHS compliance.

Your NeCA member Site Safety Audit visit will:

½ check your compliance with safety and licensing laws; ½ assist with any challenges of managing safety; ½ asist with understanding of the NeCA SWmS templates; ½ demonstrate our safety management systems and learn about new offerings; ½ assist with accredited service provider (ASp) accreditation; ½ inform you on how to achieve triple ISO accreditation.

If you are interested in a free 90-minute member Site Safety Audit, scan the Qr code to connect with a NeCA member manager.

NIGHT SHIFTS VS AFTERNOON SHIFTS

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN PAY RATES?

NeCA’S HUmAN reSOUrCeS (Hr) AND INDUStrIAL reLAtIONS (Ir) teAm HAS reCeNtLY reCeIVeD A NUmber OF CALLS FrOm memberS eNQUIrING AbOUt pAY rAteS FOr empLOYeeS WOrKING AFterNOON Or NIGHt SHIFtS.

Are you aware that under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (the Award) an afternoon shift is one that finishes after 6:00pm and at or before midnight, whereas a night shift is when an employee works on a shift finishing after midnight and at or before 8:00am.

It is important to note that shift loadings under the Award only come into effect when the company continues to offer afternoon or night shift for at least five consecutive afternoons or nights. However, when an employee is undertaking such a shift which does not continue for at least five successive afternoons or nights, they are entitled to payment at time and a half of their ordinary hourly rate for the first two hours of the shift, and double time thereafter (monday to Friday). Note that these penalties increase for shift work on Sundays and public holidays and for casual employees.

If you need advice on how to pay your employees who work afternoon or night shifts, connect with NeCA’s in-house Hr and Ir experts.

please note that this content relates to employees covered by the Award only. If your employees are covered under an enterprise agreement, specific advice should be sought.

All NeCA members receive unlimited basic phone and email support on all Hr and Ir enquiries including pay rates, award rates, termination, travel allowances and leave entitlements. Scan the Qr code to submit your enquiry.

NECA MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INDUSTRY’S TOP 10 SWMS

Developed by NeCA experts specifically for industry, the NeCA safe work method statements (SWmS) can be downloaded for free from NeCA’s technical Knowledge base (tKb).

A SWmS ensures that potential on-site risks and hazards have been identified and rectified. It also has detailed instructions for on-site workers to follow to mitigate the risks. SWmS need to be prepared by a person Conducting a business Undertaking (pCbU) for work that is considered High risk Construction Work (HrCW) or any work involving energised electrical work.

Sorting your SWmS need not be a tedious task. Log on to tKb and download the industry’s top 10 SWmS templates: electrical, Work at Heights, Asbestos, Overhead powerlines, General trade Work, Ladders, electrical Installations, Verification testing, and Cable Installation.

As a member you can also ensure you have the correct safe work practices in place, by accessing your free 90-minute Safety Advisory visit.

Scan the Qr code to request your visit.